Student of the Month
Dog Groomer Kenedi Greenwood
Kenedi Greenwood is currently finishing the final stages of her dog grooming externship in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. After owning animals her whole life and taking care of their bathing and grooming needs, Kenedi decided it would be a career worth looking into. She was already running a successful doggie daycare business out of her home and the Dog Groomer Program was just what Kenedi needed to expand her career with animals.
What has been your most rewarding moment during your externship?
My most rewarding moment so far in my externship has been grooming a dog from start to finish and not having anything that needed to be fixed or still done at the end. I always have my mentor go over my work when I’m finished grooming a dog to make sure that everything is up to standards, and I usually have one or two things to fix up. But this time, I finished a dog and everything was up to standards and nothing needed to be fixed, and I was quite proud of myself.
How did you hear about the Dog Groomer Program and what convinced you to become certified?
I found out about Animal Behavior College by Googling schools for grooming that included hands-on training. I wanted to learn all the tricks and techniques, and be able to execute them properly. I wanted to make sure that if I was going to make this career move and finally do something for myself that I would be doing it the right way. I decided to become certified because I knew it would give me a leg up in the grooming world. To be able to display certificates on my wall in my business puts people at ease because they know you had to do extensive training to achieve that certificate. I want to be as professional as possible when it comes to my business.
What has your experience been like in the ABC Grooming Instruction Program?
My experience has been wonderful. My mentors have always been there when I needed them and have always answered my questions in a timely manner. I have never felt like I’ve been on my own in this, and have always had everything I needed. They have also worked with me in terms of my externship by allowing me to work once a week and still pass minimum hours. They have been really accommodating and, in return, I’ve had a great experience and would recommend the school to anyone.
What one thing stands out for you in terms of knowledge and/or skills acquired from the program?
I never knew the complexity of grooming. A lot of effort goes into grooming dogs and cats, and it’s definitely not as easy as picking up a razor and going to town on the animal. I’ve also realized that a lot of people don’t understand the amount of work that goes into grooming their animal. We get a lot of calls saying, “Oh, can’t you just squeeze us in? It’s only a small dog” and that doesn’t matter. Yes, size plays a big part, but also type of coat, the dog’s behavior and the condition of the coat. People don’t understand this— and for a while I never understood that either. But now that I know, I make sure people are as well-informed as I am.
What grooming skills or techniques do you want to master during the next 12 months?
I would like to master all of the skills and techniques in grooming. As I’ve said before, I don’t put in half the effort when I do things, and I plan to become the best possible groomer I can be. I want to be the one person people go to when they need good quality grooming for an affordable price. I want to be proud of my work whenever an animal leaves my shop, and I want people to be just as proud of their animal as I am.
